Image Source - PTI
October 5, 2024 - The body of a 10 years old girl was recovered from Jaynagar area of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. She was missing reported the day before, and the body was found early morning on the very next day by the locals. Allegations against Police started surfacing and began to fly that negligence on part of the police may have cost a life.
Allegations of Rape and Murder Spark Violent Protests
Locals in the region claim that the minor was raped and murdered. They say that her family had lodged a complaint on her going missing the previous night itself at the Mahismari police outpost, but it did not respond in time. Such could have been the distance between life and death for the girl, locals say. Enraged over the alleged inaction, the mob gathered near the outpost, set it afire and pelted policemen with stones.
Policemen vandalized, and even tear gas used to subdue the mob
Protests continued to swell as villagers went on a vandalising spree of vehicles parked outside the police station that prompted cops to scamper for safety. The high-ranking officers, as well as a number of policemen, were rushed to the spot that was heavy with angry stone-pelting protesters. Tear gas shells were used to disperse the crowd. It is heard for some time during the protest, senior policemen were allegedly held captive by the protesters before they were brought under control.
Image Source - PTI
Comparisons to the R.G. Kar Medical College Incident
This case eerily reminded one of the recent incident at R.G. Kar Medical College, where a woman doctor was found dead under suspicious circumstances. There both locals have been expressing their frustration over the tardy response by law enforcement: Have we learned nothing? Despite widespread outrage about the handling of the case at R.G. Kar, it's another family left to mourn a tragedy that could have been prevented.
Locals Claiming Justice
We will keep protesting until all people responsible for our daughter's death are punished,
said Ganesh Dolui, the local. He also requested that action should be taken against the officers who delayed their response and during which the girl died. Many in this village feel that had it been the police reaction quickly, she might have saved the girl.
Police Response and Arrest of an Accused
The police claim that action was taken immediately after the complaint was filed at 9 p.m. on Friday itself. An accused has been arrested in connection with the alleged rape and murder, and further investigation is underway. The police have also threatened to identify and charge those responsible for the destruction of the outpost and the vandalism of police property.
- As per the sources.
Are We Still Failing After the R.G. Kar Incident?
In this tragic case, everyone is left wondering why-even after all the commotion following the R.G. Kar Medical College incident-such police response continues to happen. Only delays in taking proper action on such critical complaints are killing. How many more such cases would it take to change the system? People want answers and action-not just for this case, but so that it doesn't happen again.
Inputs by Agencies
Image Source: Multiple Agencies
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